After a lengthy executive session to discuss an emergency situation dealing with an employee disciplinary matter, council members in Paden City voted to suspend Paden City Police Chief Michael Billiter without pay after criminal allegations were made against him earlier in the week.

The vote took place on Sept. 6 during the regular meeting of the City Council in Paden City, with only one councilman, Richard Wright, voting against the suspension.

Council also directed City Attorney Carolyn Flannery to look into starting the process of changing the dates of the next city election to coincide with the county elections. Holding elections at the same time the rest of the county does is expected to eliminate the extra costs to the city of hiring poll and election workers.

Flannery was also directed to look into the possibilities of changing the recorder position to an appointed position rather than an elected one.

City Crew Manager Clifford Duke was on hand at the meeting to ask for permission for the Maintenance Department to repair or replace the water line on 7th Avenue from Main Street to Robinson Street at a cost of approximately $2,000. Duke explained to council that old 6-inch line needed to be replaced with 8-inch line. The request was approved in hopes the repairs will cut down on problems with water lines in that area.

Permission for the Police Department to purchase a software upgrade to send a required monthly report to Charleston on their arrests at the cost of approximately $1,995 was approved. “We’re not in compliance at this time,” said Mayor Bill Fox. “We need this new software.”

The Park and Pool committee reported that plans were currently being made for the annual Haunted Trail held in the city. The committee also reported that the group had been working on revising rules for the park and pool and would be available in the near future.

Mayor Fox was given permission to sign the drawdown #7, Resolution for the Sewer Rehabilitation Project. The city’s contract with Pestech was also renewed.

In other matters, a concerned citizen asked that a speed limit sign, or children playing sign, be considered on Wetzel Street. “There are a lot of kids on that street and people are just flying down it,” she said. “We need some kind of sign or something.”

The issue was turned over to the Street committee for consideration.

Council also granted permission for the Church of God, located at the corner of Robinson Street and the south 100 block of 3rd Avenue, to park on both sides of the street on Wednesdays.

The resignation of Sgt. Ronnie Henry from the Paden City Police Department was accepted effective Sept. 9.

Council members present and voting on issues at the meeting were Larry Potts, Tom Trader, Richard Wright, Dan Probst and Bob Casteel.